Breech-loading ordnance



(N0 Mode l.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. H. MELHUISH.

BREEGH LOADING ORDNANOE. No. 280,207. Patented June 26, 1883.

Inventor Mama MM bwa-rngy (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. MELHUISH.

BREEGH LOADING ORDNANOE.

No. 280,207. Patented June 26, 1883.

mu 1m li MW Mild/Law! far l UNITED STATES PATENT. FFICE.

BREECH-LQADING ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,207, dated June 26,1883.

Application filed September 18,1882.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known thatl, WILLIAM H MELnUisi-r,

of WVilliamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech-Load ing Ordnance;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The invention involved in the subj ect1natter of this applicationrelates to certain improvements in breechloadi 11g ordnance, whereby thesame is enabled to more effectively prevent and resist, respectively,the rearward flash and impact of the charge when ignited, to morereadily and quickly extract the sh ell and to fire either by friction,primer, or percussion, as may be incident to the kind of shell employed.

The invention therein consists, principally, in the adaptation of adivided breech, and in the construction, arrangement, and combination ofthe various operative parts thereof, all as more particularlyhereinafter described, designated in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection of a cannon with its breech closed and locked by meansconstructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevationwith the hinged cap or cover raised and acting upon the shell-extractorFig. 3, a rear elevation of the breech with hinged cap or cover raised;Fig. 4, a horizontal section taken on the line 50 x of Fig. 3, with ashell inserted in its chamher; and Fig. 5, a view in detail of themechanism for extracting the shell.

Li'ke letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A represents thebarrel of a cannon, east and bored in any desiredmanner, with its breech horizontally divided to form the portion B andthe cap or cover (I, which is hinged, as

shown, to open and close the breech, respectblocks 0 and c therein.

(No model.)

axial depth sufficient to receive and accommodate a cam or block, a,rigidly secured to a breech-key (hereinafter described) and turningcoincident with the revolution of the same. This lower half or portion,B, of the breech is provided on its upper surface and on one side of itsbore B with a deep longitudinal groove or slot, 1), which is adapted forthe reception and accommodation of several of the compo nent parts ofthe shell-extracting mechanism, presently to be described. In the bottomand at each end of this groove or slot 7) is located a block or seat, 0and 0, respectively, above which, to the upper surface of the breechportion B, the entire length of the groove or slot is of dovetailconstruction to admit a come spondingly-shapcd portion oftheshell-extracting mechanism. This mechanism consists of a-rod, D, havingone end made broad and fiat, equal in width to that of the groove, andthe other end free to pass through an opening ex tending longitudinallythrough the center of the block or seat 0. This rod is placed in thebottom of the groove or slot Z), and for a po1-- tion of its length isincased in coil-spring D,

which has bearing at each end, respectively,

against the block or seat 0 and the inner shoulders of the broad andflattened end of said rod.

- In the upper or dovetail portion of the groove or slot 1) is inserteda correspomlinglyshaped bar, E, of equal length to said groove or slot,and supported ateach end by the This bar provided on its inner end, asshown, with a rectangular block, E, cast therewith at a right angle toits length, and in its normal position fits partially within adepression or recess, (1, made in the vertical side (2 of the barrel A.The center of this block, for a portion of its length, is provided witha cylindrical chamber of sufiicient diameter to receive a pin, 0,between the inner end of which and the termination of such chamber islocated a coil-spring, c. The pin a is beveled or inclined at its.notr1uling end, (for a purpose hereinafter to be described,) and islimited in its movement in either direction by means of a small pin, f.secured to its periphery, and coming in contact with the ends of a slot,f, cut in the center and upper surface of the block E, and communicatingwith the chamber therein. The portion of this block which. fits withinthe depression or IOO recess d projects in toward the bore of thebarrel, and forms a ledge, g, which is flush with and forms a portion ofthe seat provided in the rear end of the bore of the barrel for theflange of the shell or cartridge, as shown in Fig. 4. This ledge iscurved on its inner edge, as shown, to correspond with the curvature ofthe base and adapt itself to the accommodation of the shell orcartridge.

The bar E, with its block, is secured, as shown, to the ,rod D by meansof a screwthreaded bolt passing through a hole drilled in the former andin the broad and flattened end of the latter, which is correspondinglythreaded to receive and hold such bolt.

The hinged cap or cover 0 is provided on its under or contact surfaceand along its entire length with a convex extension, F, rising from itscentral portion, and equal in diameter to the width of the bore B, inwhich it is adapted to fit closely when the cap is closed down uponthelower half or portion, B, of the breech. This extension is dividedtransversely at its center by a cavity or key-chamber, h, which is madeprecisely in accordance with that in the bore of the lower half orportion, 13, of the breech, and incases the cam orblock a of thebreech-key. This key consists of a shaft, G, carrying near its inner endthe cam or block a, which is transversely arranged and rigidly securedthereon, while upon the outer end, and parallel with the cam or block a,is fastened the lever-handle G, by meansof which the key is operated.This shaft G passes longitudinally through the convex extension F and acorrespondingly-shaped extension ris ing from the center of the cam orblock a, and terminates and has bearing at its inner end, a shortdistance beyond the cavity or chamber h.

The cam or block a is designed to fit and fill somewhat loosely thechamber h, in order to have free and unimpeded movement therein when thelever handle is manipulated. Its diameter in the axial direction is madeto correspond with the axial depth of both the cavities or key-chambersa and 71, so that when the hinged cap or cover is closed down upon thelower half or portion of the breech and a half-revolution is given tothe lever-handle it will enter and closely fit within the cavity orchamber a, and thereby securely close and lock the breech of the gun.

The cap or cover is further provided on its under or contact surfacewith a recess, i, lo-

cated as shown, and designed, when the breech is closed and locked, tofit closely over that portion of the block E (of the shell-extractingmechanism) not covered by the depression or recess (1, and therebyproduce a perfect airtight joint and prevent the emission of any gaswhen the gun is fired.

The extraction of the shell, after firing, is effected by the raising ofthe cap or cover 0, which, for the successful accomplishment of thisresult, is provided on the outer end of the hinging bolt or shaft, andnext to the inner ing against or in contact with the ledge g of saidblock.

When the cap or cover (J, in being raised, attains the height shown inFig. 2,'the beakshaped point or projection of the pawl H, by means ofits curvature,- is caused to pass over the peripheryof the pin e, thusfreeing the same from its engagement and permitting the entireshell-extracting mechanism to resume its normal position by the pressureof the coil-spring D.- When the cap or cover is lowered, the beak-shapedpoint or projection of the pawl H readily passes the protruding end ofthe pin 6 by means of the bevel or incline thereon, and the coil springc, which presses said pin forward to its normal position. The firing iseffected by means of a pin or needle, I, secured to the inner end of thecon- .vex extension F on the cap or cover 0, and on a line with theaxial center of said extension and the bore of the barrel A. It isprovided on each side of its point with avent, K, extending backward andcommunicating with a single vent, L, opening through the top of the capor cover 0, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will thus be seen and understood by those versed in the art that thisconstruction and ar rangement of the needle or pin adapt the gun forfiring by either friction, primer, or percussion, as may be incident tothe kind of shell employed.

It may be well to here state that the rearward flash of the charge, whenignited, may be more effectively prevented by placing in the bottom ofthe shell, before loading, a piece of thick paper or other likematerial, which is penetrated by the point of the needle or pin when thebreech is closed, and when the charge is ignited the pressure forces thematerial tightly around the same, forming a packing, and therebyrendering it almost impossible for the rearward flash to occur.

From the foregoing description it will be manifest that the differentparts composing my invention could be modified in their construction andrespective locations without effecting any material change in theoperation and result of the same. It will, however, be found .that ifconstructed as herein described, they will prove the best upon practicaltest, and the cheapest and most durable in use.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. A breech-loading gun or cannon having portion 13 and the hinged capor cover 0, provided, respectively, with the bore B and the cavity orkey-chamber a and extension F, cavity or key-chamber 71, and thebreech-key, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially asdescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a breech-loading gun or cannon having a horizontally-dividedbreech, the combination, with the portion B, provided with the dovetailgroove or slot 1) and blocks or seats 0 and c, as described, of theshell-extracting mechanism consisting of the rod D, its coilspring D,bar E, and block E, provided with the spring-actuated pin 6, beveled atits protruding end, the several parts constructed, arranged, and securedtogether substantially as described, shown, and for the purpose setforth.

3. In a breech-loading gun or cannon having a horizontally-dividedbreech, the combination, with the portion B, provided with the dovetailgroove c, and the shell extracting mechanism constructed, arranged, andtraveling in said groove, substantially as described and shown, of thepawl H, mounted upon one 25 end of the hinging-shaft of the cap or cover0,

to engage with the spring-actuated pin 6 of the shell-extractingmechanism, substantially as described, shown, and for the purpose setforth.

4. In a breech-loading gun or cannon havo ing a horizontally-dividedbreech, the hinged cap or cover 0, provided with means for firing thepiece by friction, primer, or percussion, consisting of the cone-shapedneedle or pin 1, cast with said cap or cover O, as shown, and 35provided with vents arranged substantially as described and shown.

This specification signed and witnessed this 29th day of July, 1882.

WILLIAM H. MELHUISH. \Vitnesses:

JNo. H. BURRoWs, Jno. E. JoNEs.

